Obituaries for Jan. 6, 2010

Jon Croghan

Jon Frederic Croghan, 73, of Baker City, died Jan. 3, 2010, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise.

His memorial service will at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a reception after the service.

Jon was born on June 18, 1936, at Kalispell, Mont., to Charles and Marguerite Dodge Croghan. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1954. In 1956 he joined the U.S. Navy. He was discharged in 1959.

He then attended Eastern Oregon University at La Grande until 1967, Central Washington University at Ellensburg until 1973, then the University of Oregon at Eugene, studying in the superintendent program, graduating in 1988.

From there he became an educational media director, until his retirement. He then became an avid photographer.

He met the love of his life, Tonita Spray, and they were married on Aug. 16, 1969, at Billings, Mont. They had one son, Sean Croghan.

Jon had a wide range of interests including hunting, fishing, astronomy and bird watching. He loved photography and had quite a collection of special memories.

Jon had a commercial and private pilots license and was a flight instructor. He served as state president of the Oregon Pilots Association and was a member of the YMCA Board, Airport Commission, City Budget Board, Baker County Commission on Disabilities and chaired the Baker County Transadvocacy Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Marguerite Croghan.

Survivors include his wife, Tonita Croghan of Baker City; their son, Sean Croghan, and his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Gabriella, of Beaverton; and brothers, Stuart and Michael Croghan, both of La Grande.

Memorial contributions made by made to Oregon Public Broadcasting through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

Richard Tabor

His memorial service was at the Harney County Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Bob Yunker of the Burns Christian Church officiated. The graveside service was at the Burns Cemetery with military honors conducted by members of the U.S. Navy.

Richard, who also was known as “Dick” to some friends and relatives, was born on Nov. 8, 1930, at La Grande to Albert C. and Veda Tabor. While he was a youngster, his father worked at Emigrant Springs State Park at Meacham. Richard and his brother, Bill, had fun roaming the woods with their faithful dog during that time.

The family moved to La Grande for a few years and then to Richland where Richard graduated from Eagle Valley High School in 1948. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving four years during the Korean conflict.

After his Navy service, Richard returned home, working for a core driller doing some of the initial work in preparation for the building of the Brownlee Dam on the Snake River.

He married Virginia Wirth on May 8, 1954, at Richland. They immediately began traveling with the highway department oiling crew, going from one job location to another for three summers. They lived in a tiny trailer, which Virginia towed around Eastern Oregon using their 1950 Ford car as they followed Richard’s work.

Richard backed his truck through much of Eastern Oregon’s highways doing the oiling projects. One particularly memorable job was from Enterprise to Lewiston, going in reverse all the way. He was a very good truck driver, his family members said.

Winters were spent at Austin Junction, plowing snow. He eventually became a permanent year-round employee. The family lived at Austin Junction for 10 years before moving to Burns with the highway department.

The couple’s two daughters, Carol and Theresa, were born while the family lived at Austin Junction. Richard ended his working career as the public works supervisor for the City of Burns.

Richard loved to camp and enjoyed the mountains for camping in the summer and hunting in the fall. After he got the family several snowmobiles, winter became a great time of year, too, his family said.

He later gave up the snowmobiles and turned to four-wheeling for enjoyment, going for ATV rides with other like-minded enthusiasts. It was also his pleasure to use his four-wheeler to plow snow for people around Burns and to clean off the church parking lot and the Masonic area parking lot.

While the family was growing up, there were always vacations and many of them were spent camping at the Oregon Coast. The coast always remained a beloved place to go and even this past summer, while Richard was fighting the effects of bone cancer, he and Virginia were able to make two trips to the ocean, his family said.

He enjoyed the role of Grandpa to his four grandchildren. There was plenty of family fun and lots of hugs. He enjoyed all of the programs the children were in and watched all of their sports activities.

There were also lots of fishing and picnicking, camping and family gatherings. The rest of the family shared his love of the outdoors.

Richard was actively involved in the community through services organizations and the Senior Center. He served a term as master of the Masonic Lodge on numerous occasions and he served as worthy patron of Eastern Star several times.

He was a faithful member of both organizations, helping out where needed. Rainbow International for Girls was so important to him and he was “Rainbow Dad” to many girls over the years, his family said.

He loved watching the girls develop into poised young women. His love for children was a driving force in the volunteer groups he supported. He was interested in anything that helped young people grow into useful, caring citizens.

Kiwanis International was another organization he supported and he was always so proud of the Key Club members and the work they did in the community. He was interested in education for young people and he supported the scholarships of the Kiwanis and Lions clubs. He loved children and he loved to serve.

He was a helper who could be counted on by both organizations and their community fundraising projects.

“He didn’t cook much at home, but he sure knew his way around the Lions hamburger stand at the county fair!” family members said.

After his retirement, he could be counted on by the Senior Center when one of the groups he belonged to was serving or whenever an extra hand was needed. He served on the Senior Center advisory board for a number of years.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Virginia; his daughters, Carol, and her husband, Don Tschida, of Prineville and Theresa Tabor of Gresham; his grandchildren, Brian Riley, and his wife, Ashley, of Baker City, Levi Post of Burns, Kayla Post of Vancouver, Wash., and Austin Tschida of Prineville; brother, Albert “Bill” Tabor of Prineville; and his nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lucille and Lorna; and brother, Dale.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kids Club of Harney County, the Harney County Home Health and Hospice, the Harney County Senior Center, the Shriners Children’s Hospital or other charities. LaFollette’s Chapel of Burns was in charge of arrangements.

‘Mick’ Miller

There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pendleton Eagles Lodge, 435 S.E. First St.

Mick was born on Aug. 14, 1924, at Cove to Laurel and Mary Miller. As a child he lived in Baker County where he attended school. He was a 1944 Baker High School graduate.

He married Nina Hale as a young man. In 1988 he met Neva Fordice and they were partners until her death in 2008.

During his youth, he worked on many ranches in Baker County as a hired hand as well as working for the Burnt River Lumber Mill. He also was the Haines assistant fire chief from 1970 to 1980. He was very proud of being an active part of the Haines Community.

He moved to the Pendleton area in 1985. Nathaniel (Mick) enjoyed the beautiful lakes and forest.  Some of his hobbies were picking mushrooms, fishing and hunting.

“Nathaniel (Mick) was a family man and loved his family very much,” his family said.

In his later years he enjoyed watching and feeding the squirrels around He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lucille and Lorna; and brother, Dale.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kids Club of Harney County, the Harney County Home Health and Hospice, the Harney County Senior Center, the Shriners Children’s Hospital or other charities. LaFollette’s Chapel of Burns was in charge of arrangements.

Warren Crane

There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Robert Nelson Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, will officiate. Members of the Oregon Army National Guard will provide military rites. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the Elks Lodge after the service.

Warren’s passion in life was trucks and mechanics, which led to him establish Warren Crane Trucking. He loved to tinker with anything and was known as “nuts and bolts” by many who knew him, family members said. You broke it and he fixed it. He loved being outdoors, whether at the mine, hunting with friends and family or snowmobiling and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, B.J.; his daughter, Coral Widman, son-in-law, Michael, and grandson, Wyatt; brother, Gary Crane; sisters, Nell Smith, and her husband, Rob, Donna Avila and her husband, Anthony, Judy Stark and her husband, John, and Janet Crane.

Memorial contributions may be made to FFA through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.